Suchergebnisse

This cross-sectional study investigates the plasma inflammatory profile of chronic widespread pain CWP) patients compared to healthy controls CON). Rather than analyzing a relatively few substances at a time, we used a new multiplex proximity extension assay PEA) panel that enabled the simultaneous analysis of 92 inflammation-related proteins, mainly cytokines and chemokines. Seventeen women with CWP and 21 female CON participated and a venous blood sample was drawn from all subjects. Pain intensity and pain thresholds for pressure, heat, and cold were registered. A PEA panel 92 proteins) was used to analyze the blood samples. Multivariate data analysis by projection was used in the statistical analyses. Eleven proteins significantly differentiated the CON and CWP subjects R-2=0.58, Q(2)=0.37, analysis of variance of cross-validated predictive residuals P=0.006). It was not possible to significantly regress pain thresholds within each group CON or CWP). Positive significant correlations existed between several proteins and pain intensities in CWP, but the model reliability of the regression was poor. CWP was associated with systemic low-grade inflammation. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results and to investigate which alterations are condition-specific and which are common across chronic pain conditions. The presence of inflammation could promote the spreading of pain, a hallmark sign of CWP. As it has been suggested that prevalent comorbidities to pain (e.g., depression and anxiety, poor sleep, and tiredness) also are associated with inflammation, it will be important to determine whether inflammation may be a common mediator. ; Funding Agencies|Uppsala Berzelii Technology Center for Neurodiagnostics; Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA); Swedish Research Council [P29797-1, K2015-99x-21874-05-4]; County Council of Ostergotland [LIO-35923, SC-2013-00395-36]; AFA Insurance [140341]

Objective: Neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia are two common and poorly understood chronic pain conditions that lack satisfactory treatments, cause substantial suffering and societal costs. Today, there are no biological markers on which to base chronic pain diagnoses, treatment choices or to understand the pathophysiology of pain for the individual patient. This study aimed to investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein profiles potentially associated with fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain. Methods: CSF samples were collected from 25 patients with neuropathic pain (two independent sets, n=14 patients for discovery, and n=11 for verification), 40 patients with fibromyalgia and 134 controls without neurological disease from two different populations. CSF protein profiling of 55 proteins was performed using antibody suspension bead array technology. Results: We found increased levels of apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in CSF of neuropathic pain patients compared to controls and there was a trend for increased levels also in fibromyalgia patients. In addition, levels of ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase family member 2 (ENPP2, also referred to as autotaxin) were increased in the CSF of fibromyalgia patients compared to all other groups including patients with neuropathic pain. Conclusion: The increased levels of APOC1 and ENPP2 found in neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia patients may shed light on the underlying mechanisms of these conditions. Further investigation is required to elucidate their role in maintaining pain and other main symptoms of these disorders. ; Funding Agencies|Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation SystemsVinnova; Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet)Swedish Research Council; Uppsala University; KTH Center for Applied Precision Medicine (KCAP); Marie-Curie fellowship from the INSENS/FP7-PEOPLE-2013European Union (EU) [607616]; NEURO Sweden; AFA Insurance; ALF Grants, Region Ostergotland